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Careers programmes MyFuture MyFuture App part-time job work experience

How to find work experience as a Queen’s Student – Using the MyFuture app

University is a time of growth and learning, where students are able to gain valuable knowledge and skills to help prepare them for their future careers. However, while academic achievement is undoubtedly important, it is equally essential for students to gain work experience alongside their studies.

The benefits of work experience while at university are numerous, ranging from enhanced employability to improved time management and networking skills.

At Queen’s University, the MyFuture app/website is the one stop shop for finding work experience and jobs whilst at university. Here are some tips for navigating the website to maximise your opportunities.

“How can I find work experience opportunities during my time here at Queen’s?”

If you are reading this essay then you have taken your first step to find work experience. One of the good places for finding good opportunities is actually through our social media apps. You can find these opportunities @QUBCareers on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

We post a lot about work experience, especially on a Wednesday. We have a jobs reel that’s dedicated to those voluntary, casual and part-time roles. Similarly, the Queens Careers dedicated website has lots of information about work experience opportunities.

Similarly, look out in your mailbox as well because you will get careers consultants newsletters. The careers consultant is linked to your school, will sends out newsletter and jobs and work experience will filter through from that.

However, the main focus of today is MyFuture, which is a careers management system for Queens.

“How exactly can I use MyFuture to find these work experience opportunities?”

MyFuture is a career management system which all Queen’s students have access to it and you can simply log in using your Queen’s credentials. On the MyFuture system you can perform many things, including but not limited to:

  • Book careers and activities
  • Book careers consultations
  • Find out about degree plus pathways
  • Access VMock (CV Checker)
  • Frequently updated job boards

“What sort of jobs can we find on MyFuture?”

MyFuture is frequently updated from lots of employers who will come on a daily basis and post all sorts of jobs including graduate roles and work experience opportunities .

What’s important to note is that MyFuture acts like your favourite streaming apps such as Netflix and Disney+. The more you use it, the more it will adapt towards your job preferences. So if you go on to the job search, the first thing you’ll see is “because you viewed this job”. On top of this, it will also pull-out jobs that other people who are studying the same thing as you are looking at which will definitely be useful. You’ll also be able to see jobs that have recently been posted as well as jobs that have been trending on the MyFuture website.

“Im seeing too many jobs that I’m not interested in, how can i fix this issue?”

You can make use of the filter on the website. This will allow you to filter based on characteristics such as graduate roles, work experience, placement year, long placement internships, short insight opportunities, employability, development opportunities, voluntary work.

“Can I set up alerts for any of these opportunities coming our way?”

Once you’ve done that search with the filters that I talked about, you can set an alert. For example, I’m looking for a part time job in the voluntary sector. I can set that filter and then you can see an opportunity to set up an alert.

So what you do is you go in and it sets up an alert for you, and you can tailor it to come to you as often or as less frequently if you like.

For example, you could set that alert to come to you every week, because you really want that part-time role and you’ll get that filtered through to your e-mail so All of the jobs that have been added since you last looked, they will come to you by e-mail and the good news? You can set up as many alerts as you want!

“How can we apply for jobs on MyFuture?”

Once you find that role you can like find all of the things that you expect to find; your candidate criteria, your location, your salary, all of those things. Then you’ll see a big apply button.

Now there’s a couple of different ways the employers will use that apply button. So either you can apply to their external website and you can go directly to that application process or some of the jobs you will be able to apply through MyFuture and it prompts you to add your CV and cover letter.

So you can add your CV, upload your cover letter and then attach that to the application and those documents remain there as well so you know you can use them again. (Although I think the people in the career service would be encouraging you to tailor your cover letter and CV!), but the application process is really, really simple.

“What specific job tools are there for international students?”

So with the filters previously mentioned, you can actually add a filter to look at employers that are willing to take students on with a work visa.

There’s also an option for student circus, which is UK jobs for international students, so if you click on that, that takes you directly through with our login to that resource, where there’s lots of jobs for international students, so that filter with the employers and then the additional menu item of jobs for international students.

“How do you I access work opportunities abroad?”

If you go on to MyFuture and you go on to that jobs menu, you’ll see another menu item. That menu item is for work abroad opportunities and that takes you directly to our go global find jobs abroad.

Do access this through MyFuture because once you get into this resource and If you start looking for jobs again, It will remember your personalisation.

Are you ready to start finding jobs and work experience? Click here

Categories
Career Options Career planning Mock Interviews

17 Typical (and normal!) Frustrations for University Students who are career planning

Sometimes in university it can feel like graduation is coming faster than you anticipated and worries about your post-university future are seemingly always on the rise. This can lead to undue stress during university.

But never fear, the QUB careers service is here!

Here are 18 typical frustrations that university students encounter and how the QUB careers service are here to help dispel your worries.

  1. Uncertainty about career goals and interests

Book a 1-2-1 consultation and we’ll help you narrow down your career options based on your skills and interests.

2. Difficulty in finding internships or job opportunities related to their field of study

You can search and find internships relevant to your course in MyFuture

3. Balancing academic workload and career planning activities

We offer events and programmes throughout the year, including during the Easter break so you have as much chance as possible to build your CV.

4. Lack of relevant work experience or skills

Our events and programmes are designed to help you build relevant skills and experience at Queen’s.

5. Financial constraints in pursuing career development opportunities

We offer a number of funded internship opportunities that give you the chance to earn while you learn.

6. Pressure from family or peers to pursue a certain career path

We’ll help you figure out the career that you are most suited to, not what others think you should do.

7. Feeling overwhelmed by the multitude of career options available

We’ll help you narrow down your career options to those most suited to your skills and interests.

8. Fear of making the wrong career choice

Our work shadowing and internship opportunities allow you to try and career on for size to see if it fits.

9. Limited networking opportunities with professionals in their desired field

We host a number of employer events to allow you to build your network.

10. Difficulty in creating a strong resume or cover letter

Book a 1-2-1 appointment for a CV check.

11. Lack of knowledge about industry trends and job market demands

Our Careers support is informed by the latest industry knowledge and job market trends.

12. Difficulty in obtaining informational interviews with professionals in their desired field

We can connect you with industry professionals and give you an insight into professional life in key sectors.

13. Feeling unprepared for job interviews or assessment centres

Book a 1-2-1 appointment to prep for a job interview or assessment centre.

14. Difficulty in balancing career planning with extracurricular activities or personal commitments

You are developing employability skills and personal qualities through those extracurricular activities. We offer flexibility of online or in-person consultations to help you verbalise the skills you’ve been building up.

15. Lack of motivation or direction in pursuing career goals

Early career planning is about building skills, meeting new people and having fun. Our events and programmes can help you.

16. Feeling discouraged by the job search process

We can help you focus your job search by skills and interests.

17. Difficulty in transitioning from student life to the workforce

We will help prepare you for the world of work by developing your workplace skills while at Uni through our Future Ready Skills Course. Internships can further prepare you for the transition to working life.

You can check out upcoming events here, or book 1-2-1 careers consultations here

Categories
Applications Career planning Careers programmes CVs Future-Ready Skills international students interview interview tips Interviews Mock Interviews Skills

Top Takeaway from the Future-Ready Skills Sessions for International Students

In our series of four sessions for international students running in both semester one and again in semester two, students discovered how to build their personal brand, craft an effective CV and cover letter for the UK job market and learn all about the nuances and etiquette of the UK workplace – including how to ace that all-important interview!

The final session brought all these skills together in the Assessment Centre Bootcamp.

Missed out? Here is the top takeaway from each session!

Session 1 

Key takeaways from Session 1 – UK Recruitment Process 

 – Get organised, know your application deadlines 

 – Sell your skillset as an International Student 

 – Do something outside your degree 

 – 100% of session respondents are planning to book further CES sessions! 

Session 2 

Key takeaways from Session 2 – CV’s 

 – Format matters, make your info easy to find 

 – If you don’t write it, employers can’t read it 

 – Change your CV for every job application 

 – Use VMock for written CV feedback 

Session 3 

Key takeaways from Session 3 – Interviews 

 – Know the company and the industry 

 – Use the STAR technique 

 – Show you would be a good fit for their team 

 – Book a mock interview with a Careers Consultant 

Session 4

Key takeaways from Session 4 – Mock Assessment Centre 

 – Keep to time 

 – Don’t forget to listen 

 – Put your phone away 

Missed this event? Check out other upcoming events here

Categories
Business Careers programmes Employer Panels Employer Q&A Employers STEM

Student Testimonials: Women in Business: Women in Tech

Northern Ireland’s leading tech companies & organisations came together for the 6th Women in tech Conference.

This empowering event, sponsored by MCS Group gathered role models who innovate, challenge, and embrace technology. From inspirational women who have achieved great success within the sector, to influential entrepreneurs who shared their journey throughout the world of tech from both local and global perspectives.

The day was be filled with feature speakers and panellists, providing attendees with industry-focused learning and face to face access to a high calibre of education and development experts on the conference theme of The Climate of Change.

Hear from Folasewa

I was privileged to meet and listen to some accomplished and inspiring women at the Women in Business Tech conference at the Titanic Belfast. The journey started when I heard about and enrolled in a networking and career development event organized by my prestigious university; Queen’s University, Belfast.

This was a three-day event, and my key learnings for those three days were; organizations need you as much as you need them, putting yourself out there, how to pitch yourself within a short time, and finally, keeping the right network and always staying in touch with them. The conference exceeded my expectations as I enjoyed every part of it, most especially the session anchored by Dr. Niamh Shaw my major takeaway from her speech was nothing just happens, you have to put energy into the things you like.

overall, my striking takeaway is to Deliberately create my Brand.  not to forget to mention that I attended this conference with some great minds, with who I would love to stay connected. finally, special gratitude to my university and the organizer Deirdre, whom I was privileged to share a table with. she has a very bold and eloquent charisma, worthy to emulate, and also Nikky for this highly impactful opportunity.

Hear from Chimwemwe

Why you took part in the Women in the Business programme?

It is always exciting to be in a room full of women with similar interests, encouraging each other to be better. I was hoping to understand and get an insight into how easy or difficult it is for women to enter the industry, especially in Northern Ireland. To network and learn from the guest speakers on their experiences as I am about to start applying for jobs to kick start my career.

What you enjoyed most?

Hearing all the different experiences and lessons from the ladies,  I made new connections and friends, and Niamh Shaw talking about her dream of becoming an astronaut.

What key piece of advice you will take with you?

Be the woman you want to become!